Skeleton tower



(No' Model.) 2 Sheets-fsheet 8,1.

'A8-BAKER. SKELETON TOWER,

10.508,078. Patenteq'Nv. 7, 1888.

i lll 'W 2 sheets-sheetl 8.

A. 8.88888. SKELETON TOWER.

508,078.v v1188818888 Nov. 7, 1898.

in ,5 Ba 73er:

UNITED STATE-'s PATENT OFFICE.

ALLEN S. BAKER, OF EVANSIILLE, WISCONSIN.

sKELEToN TOWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNO. 508,078, dated November7, 1893. A Application iiled January 23, 17893. Serial No. 459,486. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALLEN S. BAKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Evansare adapted to 4other purposes, such as electric lighttowers and observation towers.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a tower for any ofthese purposes, which will possess t-he required strength and a minimumof material and consequent lightness and which will have but little windsurface, whereby the tower will be especially adapted for the uses towhich it may be put. Another object of my invention is to make theAtower in sections, whereby it may be conveniently manufactured andtransported and quickly and easily erected.

The principal novelty in the invention consists generally in providing asupport or base, consisting of three or more'legs, in mounting on said`supports or legs a central vertical column sustained by the same and instrengthening said vertical column and legs in a novel and improvedmanner, as I shall hereinafter describe. A

In this specification I shall describe my invention as adapted forsupporting wind-mills.

For a better comprehension of my invention attention is directed to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which-Figure 1 represents a perspective view of myimproved tower, showing thesame as being used as a wind-mill tower; Fig. 2 a perspective view ofthe same with thewind-mill removed; Fig. 3 a cross sectional viewthrough the tower for the purpose of more clearly showing the varioushorizontal struts; Fig. 4 a vertical section through the struts; Fig. 5,a top view of Fig. 4, and'Fig. 6 is a detail view of the upper part ofthe tower.

In all of the above views, corresponding parts are designated by thesame letters and `numerals of reference.

A A are the legs of the support or base of the tower. trated four ofthese legs as constituting said support but in small towers, or intowers calculated to resist slight lateral forces, it may be moreeconomical to construct said support or base with three legs, not shownand on the 6c other hand, where special strength is desired, the saidsupport or base may be provided with tive or more legs, also not shownit being understood, of course, that the number of legs for this supportis entirely optional and in no wise bears on the spirit of myinvention.These legs fA A are made preferably of ordinary angle iron, whereby Iobtain greatstrength with but little weight; they are provided at theirlower ends Iwith anchors of any approved construc- 7o tion, whereby thesupport or base of the tower will be firmly and immovably retained inplace. These legs converge toward eachother at the top and are firmlybolted to the lugs a of the heavy supporting collar 13, the

use of which will be presently pointed out. The said legs are preventedfrom spreading at their lower ends by tie rods b b which are bolted orotherwise secured to said legs.

The said legs are further prevented from 8o bending or buckling at theircenter by girts cc 0.17

t D is the main vertical column which bears within and is supported bythe metallic sleeve B at the top of the support or base. 8 5

This vertical column is made preferably of heavy piping whereby I obtaingreat strength with but little weight, or it may have any approvedcross-section. This column is preferably made in sections 1, 2 and 3,although a 9o greater or less number of sections may be used, accordingto the height which may be desired. Each of the sections 1 and 2 of thetower carries at its upper end a supporting sleeve c. The upper end ofthe section 3 95 of the tower, or when a greater orless num- .ber 0Esections are used, the top section otl the tower, carries a wind-mill.The 'section 2 of the column D is supported within and is sustained bythe collar c of the secroo In the drawings I have illus- 55 tion 1, andthe section 3 of the column D is supported by the collar c of thesection 2, as will be understood from the drawings.

E E are struts, which extend horizontally out from the collar c from theupper end of section 1 of the column D, and said struts may be formedintegral with said collar or may be screwed into receiving sleeves onsaid collar, or may be secured to said collar in any other suitable way.F F are similar but shorter struts which extends ont from the collar cat the top of the section 2 of the column DR These struts E and F are ofthe same number as the legs A and the outer end of each of the struts isarranged vertically over a particular one of the said legs.

G G are the main guys,one of which is bolted securely to one of the legsA near the ground and extends up through sleeves d d in the outer endsof the struts E and F, and is securely bolted to a heavy collar IIsecured at or near the top of the upper section of the main supportingcolumn D Each of these main guys G may be continuous throughout, but Iprefer to make t-hem also in sections, in which case the first sectionof the guys extends from the legs A to` the struts E, and the secondsection thereof from the struts E to the struts F and the third sectionthereof from the struts F to the collar H before inentioned. These guysl may be secured to the struts E and F in any suitable way, but I preferto make the collars d d screw-threaded and to screw said guys therein,whereby they may be held securely in place. The attachment of said guysG to the collar Il may also be effected in anym well known way, but Iprefer to extend them through small lugs e in said collar, and toprovide said guys with nuts f at their ends, engaging against said lugse. In this way the said nuts f may be tightened, whereby the said guys Gcan be given the proper amount of tension. The guys G extending from thelower ends of the legs A to a point at or near the extreme top of thesupporting column D will eiectively brace said sup porting columnagainst lateral forces, and in order that said supporting,l column maybe effectively braced against crushing strains, to prevent buckling, Imake use of truss rods, as I shall now describe.

I l are truss rods, which extend from the legs A A at about the pointwhere the girts C are secured thereto, to the ends ot the struts E Ejbeing secured to said struts in any suitable way. The said girts C andthe said truss rods I support said legs A at their central points andprevent them from buckling.

J J are truss rods which extend up from the apex of the support or baseto the outer ends of the said struts Ef being secured thereto in anysuitable manner, the lower ends of these truss rods J preferablyextending through two lugs g formed on the supporting sleeve B betweenlugs a thereon. These truss rods J are provided at theirlower ends withnuts not shown which bear against said lugs g whereby the desired amountof tension may be given to said truss rods J.

K K are other truss rods extending preferably from the collar c at thetop of the section l of the main supporting column D to the outer endsof the struts F, being secured to said struts and to said collar in anysuitable way. Where more than three sections are used, the lower andintermediate sections are to be braced and supported by similarintermediate truss rods extending from their lower ends to the struts attheir upper ends, as will be understood. It is not necessary to providethese intermediate truss rods for the support of the upper section ofsaid main column D, for the reason that the said upper section willreceive all necessary support from the main guys G, as will beunderstood.

The elements which I have just described constitute the principalfeatures of my present invention, and a tower constructed in accordancewith the above description can be used for any of the purposes I havebefore mentioned.

From an inspection of Fig. 1 the use of the various guys, trusses, rodsand struts will be readily understood. By constructingthe baseorsupportof inclined legs A, which are anchored to the ground, it willbe immovably and securely held in place, and by making use of the ties,truss rods, and girts, the said base or support will be thoroughly andeectively rendered immobile. By means off the guys G the centralsupporting column D will be more thoroughly braced and supported againstlateral resistance, and by means of the truss rodsfJ and K saidsupportingcolumn will be thoroughly and electively braced againstcompression orcrushin g strains which might tend to buckle it. rIhe saidtruss rods J and K and said guys i also tend to keep the sections ofsaid centralcolumn D retained in place in the `supporting sockets B and0. At the upper end and to one side of the supporting column D acylindrical sleeve L is secured by means of a collar M and the saidbefore mentioned collar II. This cylindrical sleeve L carries at itsupper end any convenient form ot' wind-mill N, that shown being a wellknown form of reciprocating mill. The piston rod 7L of said mill extendsdown through said sleeve L and is constructed in the usual way. Thispiston rod h connects with the pump rod i which extends down parallelwith the supporting column D and operates the pump O or any othermachine. This pump rod works Within a guide j which is shown at thebottom of the supporting column D but any number of these guides may beused in the intermediate IOO IIO

lengths of the supporting column D" and' with power mills these guides jmaybe used asjournal bearings for the upright shaft.

P is the operating wire of the wind-mill which extends up from the leverr, secured preferably to one of the legs A, passing through the hollowpiston rod h and operating the necessary parts of the mill in anysuitable way.

Q Q are steps by which the topof the tower may be reached; they arebolted or otherwise secured at suitable distances apart to said centralcolumn D or they may formy an integral part of said column.

R is an ordinary ladder which extends from the ground to the top.of thebase or support adjacent 'to the lower' step Q S is a platformpreferably constructed of wood in any suitable way, which is securelybolted or otherwise secured to the guys G and upright column D, nearthe'upper end of the tower. This platform S is reached from the groundby means of the ladder R and the steps Q, and from this platform themill may be oiled or necessary work done.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new therein,anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, 'is as follows l. In atower,thecombination of an upright column, supported at its lower endby'three or more legs; and guys attached to said legs at or near thebottom thereof, and to said col-V umn at or near the top thereof,substantially as described. f'

2.l In a tower, the combination of an upright column, supported' at itslower end by three or more legs; tie rods connected to the bottom of thelegs; and guys attached to the legs at or near the bottom thereof, andto said column at or near the top thereof, substantially as described.

3. In a tower, the combination of an upright column, supported at itslower end by three or more legs; tie rods connected to the bottom of thelegs; guysattached to said legs at or near the bottom thereof, and tosaid col-` umn at or near the top thereof; and steps attached to saidupright column or forming a I or near the top of the column, secured totheV partthereof, substantially as described.

4. In a tower, the combination of an upright column, supported at itslower end by three or more legs, tie rods connected'to the bottom of thelegs, g'uysattached lto said legs at or near the bottom thereof, and tosaid column at or near the top thereof and a platform at guy rods andcolumn, substantially as described.'

5. Inja tower, the combination of an upright column, supported at itslower end by three or more legs; tie rods connected to the bottom of thelegs; guys attached to said legs at or near the bottom thereof, and tosaid columnl at or near the top thereof; and anchors attached to thelower end of said legs and embedded in the ground, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a tower, the combination of an upright column, supported at itslower end by three or more legs; tie rods connected to the bottom of thelegs; guys attached to said legs at or near the bottom thereof, and tosaid column at or near the top thereof; said guys being in sectionssecured together by couplings, sub- `stant-iallyas described.

7. -In a tower, the combination of an upright column supported on threeor more legs, said column being in sections, secured together bycouplings, tie rods connected to the bottom of the legs; and guysattached to said legs at or near the bottom thereof, and attached tosaid column at or near the top thereof, substantially as described.

8l In a tower, the combination of an upright column supportedby three ormore legs; tie rods connected to the bottom of the legs; guys attachedto said legs at or near the bottom thereof; and to said column at ornear the top thereof ;"and intermediate truss rods, J

,Kand struts E F for sustaining the column, substantially as described.

9. In a tower, the combination of an upright :column supported by threeor more legs; tie ,rods connected to the bottom of said legs; guysattached to said legs at or -near the bottom thereof, and to said columnat or near the 4topthereof; and girts C and truss rods I for supportingsaid legs, substantially as `described. f

l0. In a wind-mill tower, the combination of an upright 'columnsupported by `three or more legs, and bearing a wind-mill at its upperend; tie rods connected tothe bottom of the legs; guys attached to saidlegs at or near the bottom thereof, and'tosaidjcolumn at or near the topthereof; and guides or journals j attached to said column for thepurpose mentioned, substantially as described.

ll. In a wind-mill tower, the combination of the vertical column Dbearing a windmill on its upper end; legs A A for supporting saidcolumn; guys Gr Gr extend; ing from said legs to a point at or near thetop of the column and through struts E E and F F extending out fromintermediate points on said column; and intermediate tr'uss-rods J J andK K for the purposes mentioned, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALLEN s. BAKER.

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